BIW’s new warship project plan not expected to create Maine jobs

BATH – Bath Iron Works’ plan to cooperate with a Spanish shipyard on a new class of warship is not expected to create jobs in Maine.

The project won’t have much effect at the Navy shipbuilder’s yard because the new warships will be built in Spain or other countries, BIW spokeswoman Susan Pierter said.

“We are talking about work on the international market, not about building ships on the waterfront here,” Pierter said. “It literally is us selling the technology. It’s about marketing a design to the international navies. And at this point, we don’t have any customers.”

The Advanced Frigate Consortium, which includes BIW, announced plans last week for a warship that would weigh 2,600 tons, roughly a third of the current generation of Aegis destroyers built in Bath.

The new warship, to be marketed to other countries, is to be developed and built by Bath and the Izar shipyard in Spain.

Pierter said it was unlikely that BIW would build warships for foreign fleets in Bath.

The news about the warships was followed by the announcement that 51 production employees will be laid off April 12 because of a lack of work.

The layoffs affect 30 sandblasters and 21 pipe fitters who could be rehired in May when the USS Churchill returns to the shipyard to be reconditioned.

BIW and Local S6 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers were able to reach an understanding that allowed the shipbuilder to keep 55 preservation technician jobs, according to local President Mike Keenan.

“The company knows this union feels passionately about keeping its work force intact. I’ve got to hand it to them. They are trying,” Keenan said.

BIW offered to try to find other shipyard jobs for the laid off sandblasters and pipe fitters, he said.